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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 45
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Print number 5164b
- Amend and recommit to consumer protection
- Print number 5164a
- Amend (t) and recommit to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes dispensing audiologists, employed by a physician who has conducted an evaluation for hearing loss, to dispense hearing aids for a profit
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5164B
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to permitting certain audiologists to dispense hearing aids for a profit
Purpose
To allow audiologists employed by a physician to dispense hearing aids for a profit to patients.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 Provides that a licensed audiologist employed by an otolaryngologist or other licensed physician who has conducted a medical evaluation of hearing loss, may dispense hearing aids for profit provided that the otolaryngologist or other licensed physician provides to the patient a list containing the name and office location of five hearing aid dispensers located within the same county. Further, the bill provides that the physician's office shall provide a written statement disclosing that the office will receive a profit from the sale of any hearing aid device.
Section 2 contains the effective date.
Justification
At this time, hearing impaired individuals must be evaluated and diagnosed by an otolaryngologist, better known as an Ear-Nose-and Throat doctor (ENT) and maybe referred to an audiologist to conduct further bearing tests and to obtain hearing aids. Audiologists are often employed by otolaryngologists and have received significant training in treating hearing impaired patients and should be allowed to dispense and repair hearing aids for a profit. Currently, and independently practicing audiologist is allowed to dispense for a profit, this bill would extend this to audiologists who work in a physician's office. This will allow patients to see fewer doctors and specialists, saving them treatments costs and copayments.
Legislative history
2011: S.5164 Referred to Consumer Protection
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.